Peugeot recently announced their air hybrid system for their cars. This is quite a shift from the conventional electric hybrid that most car manufacturers are pursuing. The fact remains that the electric hybrid is flawed to some degree as the biggest problem faced is weight and range. The electric hybrid is heavy because of the batteries and the batteries also have a limited use life which also means expensive replacement cost when the batteries are dead.
The electric hybrid also has a problem with the range. The added weight also takes a toll on the range. The more batteries the car has the more range it is suppose to provide but it also means more weight that the car needs to shift. It is quite a trade off.
Peugeot's air hybrid is not a new concept as the inventor in NZ came out with the idea of using compressed air to turn a turbine. The turbine is connected to the transmission which allows it to turn the wheels. The principle is simple in theory. The compressed air tanks are stored next to the transmission tunnel and the rear axle. During deceleration the valve opens to collect air and compress it. The whole process of recollecting the air is only 10 secs which is much shorter than the time taken for the electric hybrids to recharge the batteries.
The range provided by the air hybrids is still very short (approximately 5km) but it acts more like a range assist to the engine. With the fast recharge (air) time, the air hybrid system can cut in more frequently making the range extension function feasible. The compressed air tanks are not as heavy as batteries and also yield less potential pollution as the batteries need to be replaced and disposed off.
Peugeot claims a respectable 560km range for the air hybrid system coupled with a 1.2 Litre turbo gasoline engine.
This concept may challenge the electric hybrid's develop altogether.
